Press Release Article

Council for Airport Opportunity is Gateway to Airport Jobs for Thousands of New York and New Jersey Community Residents

The Port Authority today extended funding for the Council for Airport Opportunity (CAO), a nonprofit organization that provides airport-related recruitment and job placement services to minority and disadvantaged residents in Queens, New York and Essex, Hudson and Union counties in New Jersey. In 2004, CAO will receive more than $1.6 million to continue its successful program.

Port Authority Chairman Anthony R. Coscia said, “Our airports generate tremendous economic benefits in New Jersey and New York, including supporting more than 428,000 jobs. Governor McGreevey has made clear his priority that local communities directly benefit from the facilities and projects in their neighborhoods. We are committed to ensuring that residents who live near the airports have access to as many airport and airport related jobs as possible. The Council for Airport Opportunity is a tremendous resource linking airport businesses that have positions to fill with community residents looking for jobs.”

Port Authority Vice Chairman Charles A. Gargano said, “The Council for Airport Opportunity was incorporated in 1972 to provide access to airport jobs for minority and disadvantaged residents of communities surrounding Newark Liberty International, John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports. Thousands of residents in Queens and New Jersey have found employment with the assistance of CAO. Governor Pataki is committed to creating as many opportunities as possible for residents of New York. In 2003 alone, 2,120 people were placed in airport or airport-related jobs.”

Port Authority Executive Director Joseph J. Seymour said, “The Council for Airport Opportunity has been a tremendously successful partnership between the Port Authority and airport businesses to the benefit of residents living near our airports. CAO provides interested local residents with counseling on job readiness, interviewing skills and job search techniques. It also has a successful summer youth employment program, providing work experience to area high school students. It is an invaluable resource to local communities and airport companies.”

Newark Mayor Sharpe James said, “The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is one of the great partners in the City of Newark’s renaissance, and we are delighted that they are continuing to support our efforts to provide jobs and opportunities for our residents with the Council for Opportunity Program at Newark Liberty International Airport. It will enable residents to learn about and apply for critical jobs that keep our airport’s passengers and cargo moving. The airport, with its wide range of jobs and careers, helps many residents’ careers and dreams take flight and become reality. I congratulate the Port Authority on this initiative.”

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates many of the busiest and most important transportation links in the region. They include John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia and Teterboro airports; AirTrain JFK and AirTrain Newark; the George Washington Bridge; the Lincoln and Holland tunnels; the three bridges between Staten Island and New Jersey; the PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) rapid-transit rail system; the Downtown Manhattan Heliport; Port Newark; the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal; the Howland Hook Marine Terminal on Staten Island; the Brooklyn Piers/Red Hook Container Terminal; and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan. The agency also owns the 16-acre World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan. The Port Authority is financially self-supporting and receives no tax revenue from either state.